98 VEGETABLE GARDENING. 



borer is the larva of a moth. The eggs are laid on the stems 

 of the young- plants near the roots of cucumber, squash and 

 melon vines. The larvae on hatching burrow into the stem 

 and follow along- the center, which causes the plants to wilt and 

 finally to die. The full grown borer measures about one inch 

 in length and has a whitish body with a brown head. The 

 borers leave the stems the latter part of the summer, and win- 

 ter over near the surface of the ground in cocoons composed 

 partly of earth. The moth emerges the following spring. 



Remedies. This insect is not yet found in this section but 

 is common in the eastern stages, and where it is found all 

 withered or dead vines should be destroyed. When vines 

 have only commenced to wilt the borer may often be cut out, 

 and the vine recover. It is also a good plan to cover several 

 of the lower joints of squash vines with earth to encourage 

 the formation of extra sets of roots at these places. 



The Squash Bug (Anasa tristis.) — This insect makes its ap- 

 pearance the latter part of June or the first of July. The females 

 deposit their brownish-yellow eggs in small patches on the un- 

 der side of the leaves. These hatch into nymphs, that suck 

 the sap of the leaves, often seriously injuring them. The full 

 grown bug is a little over one-half inch long, a rusty black 

 color above and yellowish beneath. They emit a disagree- 

 able odor when touched. They winter over in rubbish, under 

 boards or anywhere they can find protection. 



Remedies. Hand picking in the morning and evening, when 

 the bugs are somewhat torpid, is the most practical remedy. 

 Boards laid among the plants at night will be found to have 

 many bugs under them in the morning, and these may be 

 crushed or otherwise destroyed. Large numbers may be killed 

 in this way. 



